Women in Science and Mathematics

Although there have been relatively few females in science and mathematics historically, modern women are increasingly pursuing careers in science. The number of females earning advanced degrees in science and math has significantly increased since 1980, and if male interest in science and engineering degrees continues to lag, women are poised to overtake men in earning STEM degrees.[1]

Here are a few noteworthy female scientists and mathematicians:

Florence Bascom—First female American geologist,

Jocelyn Bell—Astronomer, discovered the first pulsar.

Gerty Theresa Cori—Received the Nobel prize for her discovery of the process by which glycogen (a carbohydrate used by animals for energy storage, analogous to starch in plants) is broken down into lactic acid.[2]

Edith Flanigen— Developed molecular sieves and invented the process for forming synthetic emeralds, important to early lasers.

Rosalind Franklin— Used the process of x-ray crystallography to determine the molecular shape of DNA, her work was then used by Watson and Crick to form the Double Helix theory of DNA structure. Died before she could be awarded the Nobel Prize along with Watson and Crick.

Elaine Fuchs—Biochemist whose research on the molecular chemistry of skin revolutionized dermatology.

Sophie Germain—Mathematician who did important work in number theory and proved Fermat's last theorem for all , one of the best results until Wiles.